Underwriting Overview

The membership program at DOM is designed to ensure that everyone in our community can access the communications technology resources they need to participate in our local media communications. Equipment is made available through subsidies from Comcast and the City of Denver, and free use of that equipment is restricted for non-commercial projects. DOM is responsible for ensuring that those subsidies do not constitute unfair competition against commercial equipment rental operations in Denver and that we are only providing free equipment access to projects that could not otherwise be completed.

In general, when a project has underwriting support, it has sufficient funding to rent equipment from a commercial rental house, or at DOM's commercial rental rates. For that reason, no commercial recognition is permitted for shows which were created using free or discounted equipment through a DOM membership. Exceptions are made for small underwriting amounts (under $5,000), provided that the underwriting support is donated directly to DOM or the Open Media Foundation, not to the show producer (DOM member).

Members must follow the guidelines below and complete the Underwriting Agreement webform, show proof of the value of the acknowledgment, and submit a letter from the sponsor on company letterhead.

Minimum Underwriting Value is $50 Per Show

DOM receives 25% off the Top of the Underwriting Dollars, Members receive 75%

75% is returned to the producer in the form of DOM bucks or cash reimbursements for documented expenses

In-kind Donations In Exchange for Underwriting is Allowed

DOM takes 0% of the donation as long as it serves the production of the show (ie. feeding crew, pays for set pieces).

DOM gets a minimum of 25% of the donation (ie. if there are two bottles of liquor, DOM gets 1) for in-kind that doesn’t directly support the production of the show.

Need proof of value of in-kind goods/services

Please note that crew cannot be paid with the remaining 75% portion. However, the crew can be compensated with DOM Bucks, or indirectly, by feeding them or paying for transportation.

If a member receives an in-kind donation that they would like to trade in for DOM Bucks and OMF can use the item (ie. for the Silent Auction and Community Events) we will give 25% of the value of the donation in DOM Bucks.

If Collecting Donations During Show, Members Must Give DOM 25% of the Proceeds

Our policies were developed based on rules set forth by our contract with the City and County of Denver.

Producer-Generated Underwriting: Community producers may seek funding for their programs from private and/or public sources ONLY to cover expenses associated with the production of their work (this may include membership fees, training, tape stock, and purchases). Underwriting funds can never be used to compensate a member producer for their time when using DOM equipment. All underwriting and sponsorship agreements must be approved by OMF, and a fee will be charged for this review process. The resulting underwriting recognition must be limited to the underwriter’s name, logo, official slogan, their address and/or web page URL. No underwriting credit may exceed 60 seconds in length and must be included in the total calculated program LENGTH as indicated on the program submission information. It may appear once before the program starts and once after the program ends, but not within the body of the program. DOM accepts no liability for any disputes member producers may have with underwriters.

Program Credits for Contribution of Goods and Services - Individual credits for such contributions are limited to sixty seconds. Any underwriting recognition, including for in-kind purposes, requires an underwriting agreement and documentation of the value received directly from the sponsors. Credits may include an acknowledgment of the contribution made. Credits may not contain any advertising information. The following guidelines apply to all credits for contributors:

Credit must appear at either the beginning or end of the program;

Credit may be aural, visual or both;

Credit may include a logo;

Credit may include a name, address, and phone number;

Credit may include a phrase describing the business of the contributor and the nature of the contribution;